The name of Dr. Dionysios Veronikis St. Louis is one that is increasingly heard among mesh-injured women. Dr. Veronikis tells Mesh News Desk (MND) he now spends half of his time doing mesh removal surgeries, also known as explants, and although he still uses synthetic mesh on rare occasions, his surgical skills allow him to harvest fascia from one’s own body to form a more natural support system to take the place of plastic mesh. Dr. Veronikis tells MND he has never used mesh kits and does not believe in them.

Educated at the University of Patras Medical School in Patras Greece, Dr. Veronikis runs the Vaginal Surgery and Urogynecology Institute of St. Louis as well as trains residents at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. He is board certified in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery and did a surgical fellowship at Mass General, Harvard Medical School in Boston. Hereare his credentials. He practices with Dr. Sara C. Wood who also did a fellowship in Vaginal surgery and urogynecology.

Dr. Veronikis was interviewed by Jane Akre, Editor of Mesh News Desk.

Q: I think one of the things we heard frequently was that many doctors trained by mesh manufacturers were not surgeons. Instead they went to a weekend cadaver clinic and were sold on a “minimally invasive” procedure that would be the bread and butter for their practice. Perhaps that was part of the problem. What do you think?

“I think you’re absolutely correct. Anti-incontinence surgery is very tricky. You need to know how to operate, you need to know the anatomy; you have to have some judgment. You have to be able to modify the procedure to fit the needs of the patient. You can’t do the same operation on everyone because their anatomy is different and the pelvic structure is different. The advent of the ‘minimally invasive’ sling was a good idea to those of us who dedicated our lives and careers to fixing women and doing the best we can to get the best outcomes.

“My practice has not changed from before FDA announcements (October 2008 and July 2011) to now. I was always very conservative and always offered multiple options. So when the companies first brought out the minimally invasive sling, they first introduced it to gynecologic surgeons. The general ob-gyns (obstetricians/ gynecologists), they can be credentialed to do this procedure. So the companies saw the green-eyed monster and went to everyone they possibly could to recruit to do these procedures saying, “it’s 20 minutes; a money maker for your practice; we’ll market your practice.” I blame the companies and I blame the doctors. The doctors have a weekend cadaver course and they are wined and dined. That is not adequate and I blame the hospitals and the credentialing process that someone who didn’t do any anti-incontinence procedures could all of a sudden become an expert at female pelvic surgery.”

Q: Especially since that area of a woman’s anatomy is her core with blood vessels, muscles, nerves and so much that can go wrong.

“It’s a very intricate part of a person’s anatomy. The human pelvis is very difficult anatomically. The human pelvis is bones, muscles, and organs that have connections among all of them. It’s very difficult to get great outcomes with surgical results.”

Q: Does that include somebody like yourself who is experienced?

“No, I’d say someone experienced at doing reconstructive surgery can get uniformly good results whether they are using mesh or don’t use mesh, depending on the patient. A person who is high-risk – who has emphysema, asthma, a BMI of 42 percent – they are probably going to put more stress on the repair. So it’s up to the individual surgeon to suggest, based on your individual characteristics, here are you options. At 42 percent you might say here is a list of the risks and the benefits. Those of us who are trained to do reconstructive surgery have better outcomes and not only because we do that procedure much more often. Let’s say a woman says she leaks urine and you can see her cervix half way down her vagina and she has a rectocele. In order to get a good outcome, you have to do more than just putting in a sling you learned in a weekend cadaver course. Even if you have a hysterectomy, you have to fix the vaginal apex, the cystocele, the rectocele and restore the normal vaginal dimensions to make the organ function properly. If you put in a sling and ignore the other defects, you are going to aggravate her prolapse and her sling may not work right because the prolapse is pulling on it.”

Q: Tell me about your history using mesh? First of all have you ever been a consultant for any mesh manufacturer?

“I have not. I never agreed with what they are proposing. I thought the original TVT was a dangerous procedure. The white paper instructions for doing a TVT making an incision under the urethra minimally and to try to take a big round trocar and pass it between the urethra and the vaginal wall, between the pelvic side wall and the bladder and then up through the anterior abdominal wall. Then to take a flat piece of mesh and to lay it inside the round channel you created. In second grade we learned you can’t put a square peg in a round hole.

I didn’t like the quality of the mesh when the TVT came out. It frayed it was not a good product.”

Perigee and TVT removed, Courtesy of Dr. Veronikis

Q: What sort of mesh were they using?

“It was the same polypropylene mesh. What’s changed is the diameter of the filament and the weave configuration. When TVT first came out by Johnson and Johnson, it was a single filament so when you cut that mesh into a 1 cm strip, it actually frayed. I did not want to be part of that. I didn’t do that procedure, so I kept doing the sling I was doing. My history started in 1994 at Mass General. We were doing synthetic slings and we had a technique that allowed us to use abdominal fascia,fascia lata or Mersilene mesh, it was not monofilament mesh. We would take our own mesh, fit it to the dimensions we wanted, fit to the properties we wanted it for and had very good success with it. So I was not willing to compromise on my outcomes for my patient’s sake.’

[Mersilene is a polyester fiber mesh made by Ethicon and used for chin implants and introduced for hernia repair in the 1950’s]

“Why did I switch what I was doing? Well after all this mesh literature came out, Mersilene was a type of mesh with a slight higher theoretical, not in my hands, but for other people it didn’t behave well. But the main reason I switched from Mersilene was I used to have to make incisions in the suprapubic area and create channels. If you were harvesting abdominal fascia it was okay because you were there anyway. But for patients who didn’t want an incision, I moved to smaller incisions, it was a more cosmetic, less invasive procedure.

“I‘ve never done any vaginal prolapse mesh kits. Never did a single Prolift, I tried to tell them not to use Prolift. Apogee, Perigee, never did an Avaulta (C.R. Bard), never did a TOT, never did a self anchoring mesh.

“Most surgeons are not trained to find that space between vagina and bladder. The way they were putting it in was too much mesh load for the space and it was rolled up then the arms stuck into the levators.

“I didn’t need to consider it. I had really good outcomes doing conventional suture repairs. I was told I’ve got to get with the times but I had a fundamental objection to mesh kits. I was very vocal in my community, I went to the CEO of my hospital and said don’t permit this. I told my mesh reps do not approach anyone to do this. Except if it is a fellowship trained reconstructive surgeon and I still don’t think kits were a good idea.”

Q: Was it the size of the kits? The arms? What did you object to?

Prolift explant

“All of it was too much mesh, especially the Prolift. Even if you were a master surgeon you can’t twist the position of the arms. A woman’s vagina is as unique as her hands and face. Some of the people putting these mesh kits in are surgeons had limited knowledge of surgery. The only thing they knew was how to put in a mesh kit. The volume of the mesh was the problem, even if you tried to make it smaller, but it was still too long and the arms going out. And it was a blind passage into the woman’s pelvic floor.”

Q: Anything transvaginal is going to be blind passage is it not?

“Absolutely not! I don’t do anything blind. I don’t do mesh kits. I do use mesh in my technique with my instruments and my procedure which is the same as using a fascial graft, but I open up the spaces I don’t do anything blind. I have designed instruments, I move the bladder and I can see where everything is going in every single procedure that I do, instead of that TVT example where you make a little incision and put the trocar through the patient’s body. If you are a surgeon who understands how to do a fascia sling you’d understand the dangers of using that trocar blindly. So all the procedures I do fascia lata, abdominal fascia, or synthetic, I try to give women options for biologic materials or for the woman who wants a synthetic, the procedure is exactly the same it is never blind.

“I have been using a simple bladder retractor to gently move the bladder during sling placement. I have designed my own trocars to pass the patients own fascia through these spaces. Therefore, the technique is the same and never blind.”

Q: And are you able to take it out if necessary?

“Absolutely, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I want to be the one to take care of my patient. I never put in any anchors; I use the smallest amount of graft possible. If the transobturator sling was a great approach we would be doing that with fascia as well. Instead when we do a fascial sling we place it retropubically as they work the best.”

Prolapse, Courtesy Dr. V

Q: A woman comes to you and says I have prolapse, what options are you going to offer her?

“Let’s take a woman who has uterine prolapse, incontinence and needs complete reconstruction. She’s in her 50s. I would offer her vaginal hysterectomy, a sacrospinous colpopexy, I would preserve her ovaries, anterior and posterior colporraphies with suture. I would tell her you may need a sling and options are fascia lata, abdominal fascia, organic grafts and synthetic, I would explain advantages and disadvantages and outcomes. Ultimately I would help guide her on her options depending on how comfortable she is. The literature says there can be 20-25% erosion rate with synthetic slings. I would tell her my personal success with continence and any less than perfect outcomes.”

Q: Under what circumstances would you offer synthetic sling mesh as a first choice?

“If she came in and had one or more previous anti-incontinence procedures, I don’t offer just one option. Typically they’ll say I had a fascia sling it didn’t work. I might suggest in the reconstructive ladder a synthetic sling a little higher on their list. The typical question is I’m worried about the mesh. All I can tell you is I’ve been doing slings since 1994 and I don’t have anywhere near the rates that are in the literature.”

Q: What type of mesh do you use and what’s your erosion rate?

“My personal erosion rate is less than 1 percent. I use Caldera sling or Boston Scientific sling if using a synthetic. I use Bard Alyte for sacrocolpopexy if using synthetic or organic. More on Bard Alyte here.

“I don’t use permanent suture because if you suture the integrity of vaginal lumen it will set up a chronic infection that will involve the mesh. I use absorbable sutures. In 2012 and 2013, I’ve done over 700 surgeries and 600 in 2011. If I had ten percent failure I wouldn’t be as popular in St. Louis. I have been in St. Louis for 17 years. The lawyers refer patients to me because so many women were being referred to me for mesh removals, and once they received the records they found I was able to help these women.

“I have a different surgical philosophy and approach. I was trained as a vaginal surgeon. I design my own instruments for a sling, for sacrospinous, and for sacrocolpopexy.”

Q: Blaming doctors for some of the injuries is not a popular concept with lawyers because they blame manufacturers. You seem to be saying some fault does lie with the surgeons? [*Editor note – problems with usability of a device are also considered a product design defect, therefore a manufacture’s defect.]

“We have an obligation to our patient. Our patients are putting their bodies and lives in our hands. We should not be attempting new procedures for the first time on our patients without their express understanding. In their hearts they didn’t know what they were doing. They did not serve their patients.”

Q: Half of your procedures are removals now correct?

“Right. A lot of women come in and ask ‘if I don’t have a tape what holds my vagina up?’ I ask them jokingly “What is a Vaginal Tape”? Scotch tape or duct tape? I take the time to educate women in their pelvic anatomy. There is a very simple computer model that I use designed in conjunction with Bard. C.R. Bard did allow me to use their program where I can show a woman during a consultation, I show her the uterus, bladder, rectum and the shape and contour of the vagina. I see in her eyes that a light goes off. Many women don’t understand their own bodies.”

Q: Do you think mesh is inert or not inert?

“There is nothing that’s really inert. Like breast implants, if it was inert the body wouldn’t recognize it. Even with a fascia lata, everyone’s immune system is a little different. I don’t think it’s totally inert. It does incite an inflammatory response so it’s not totally inert. I don’t know if we could fix these women without some type of implant.

“Do you know when they do slings with fascia, the suspending suture is polypropylene (PP)? I use polybuetester not PP sutures. I don’t have patients with pain from the implants. The retropubic sling is the only way to do a fascial sling. So I don’t see all these problems these poor women across the country and across the planet are having with transobturator slings.

“Even if you harvest fascia, 2,3,4 percent of women have leg pain. You can only harvest abdominal fascia once or the repeated harvest may lead to the patient getting a hernia. One woman had multiple C-sections. For her, fascia was very difficult to work with. We are at a difficult time. If you are doing a sacrocolpopexy and you harvest fascia lata and use fascia lata for the sacrocolpopexy and since you are opening the belly you can use abdominal fascia for the sling. You get one chance to harvest from the abdomen. If that fails, the only option you have is the other leg to get a fascia lata sling.

“I envision in 15 or 20 years we will take a biopsy of her fascia lata and will able to make something strong and we’ll be able to manipulate the DNA, make it grow with collagen stronger and grow it thicker and we won’t even need any mesh.

“In the meantime, it’s hard to help without options and I wish more existed.”

Q: And you must see a lot they are desperate for help?

“Their lives are mess, they’ve lost the jobs, their husbands, their homes. They are outcasts, their only friends are those on the internet and Facebook because no one can understand what it’s like to be constantly wet, the chronic pain, they can’t get out of the car. This year alone I did over 350 explants.

“Over the years the need for mesh removal has gotten huge. As a result, for mesh removal I’ve developed instruments. To get the sling out I use an ear, nose and throat nasal speculum. You can actually open the speculum around the sling because an ENT speculum creates a long tunnel. I’m ordering a dozen from Germany to put together a mesh removal instrument set. I have discovered a machine shop that helps tweak the instruments and I’m putting together a mesh removal pan to remove mesh without traumatizing normal tissue.

“The better you can see and expose the desired tissue and the imbedded mesh, the more precise the removal may be. I wear a headlight to direct the light exactly where I need it and special instrument that foster the removal of the implanted mesh with minimal damage to the surrounding tissue that has grown in the mesh matrix. This means removing only the mesh and the scar tissue that has grown into the mesh matrix.”

Q: So many women have had the doctors turn their back on them and instead go to pain management as if living on narcotics is a way of life?

“That bothers me. I call these doctors so that they can help their patients and provide an avenue for referral; invariably they don’t return my call. They dismiss these women by saying it only happened to you. It’s okay for a doctor to say I’m sorry this happened, let me call my friend to help you. A society is judged by the way it cares for its women and children. Many of these doctors put in mesh with no loyalty toward helping their patient when results were not what was expected, no obligation, nothing.”

Melynda- You can read more it turns out. Linda K and Denise, both patient advocates, were working on a Dr. V interview the same time I was… we didn’t know each was doing that… great minds. Anyway, here is their interivew and it is very complete. See teapapers:

Thanks for the heads up, Jane. Truly, I can’t say enough good about this doctor. It isn’t just his surgical skills that are stellar, it is how he treats his patients, too. From the nurses that work with his patients at the hospital to his own office staff, he demands the best care for his patients. And frankly, after years of being dismissed and belittled by medical professionals, Dr. Veronikis’s fierce loyalty to his patients’ welfare is a welcome relief to mesh survivors who are fortunate enough to find their way into his care.

This is the surgeon I contacted. His office manager is very kind and willing to do whatever she can to assist in setting up the consult and get the process moving in the right direction. I live in Arkansas and this is much closer than UCLA. The only obstacle I have found is that I don’t have insurance and even if I did there are very few insurance carriers that will pay for me to see a doctor in another state and still pay. I am praying for ObamaCare to provide the way for me to get this removed and I am very hopeful that Dr. Veronikis can help. Thank you for asking all the questions we as victims need to know and some we would never think to ask nor know to ask. Thanks for all you Mesh Warriors do in our fight for peace.
-Rebecca

Rebecca- Insurance can be challenged. Just check out Lisa Pashenee’s Patient Profile – she challenged her insurer carrier and won! If there is no expert in your area you must go to the expert. As we hear repeatedly, experimental and partial explants may do more harm than good and too many surgeries is never good, especially if they do not resolve the situation. Please let us know your next step…

I know that Dr. Veronikis also takes self-pay patients. It wouldn’t hurt to at least have a consultation with him and see how much his portion of the surgery would be. Actually, it is *exactly* what I would do if I didn’t have insurance, or my insurance didn’t cover him. Having been under his care in his OR (he did my reconstruction surgery in 11/2013), I would sell my house or take out a loan if that is what it took to see him. He’s that good. In fact, I have made all of my female relatives PROMISE me they will not let any other urogyn other than Dr. Veronikis do ***any*** kind of surgery on them – *EVER.* I’ve been to UCLA and the U of U urogyn clinics – while their doctors are exceptional (Raz did my removal surgery in 05/2013), Dr. Veronikis is in a class of his own.

Best of luck to you – hopefully at least one of the plans available to you under the ACA will be able to get you into Dr. Veronikis. If not, make a way, find a way to get in to see him.

I’ve been told if I go out of town for removal” Nobody will see you in this town “. I also thought Obamacare would help, only to find them not affordable for a woman my age, pay nothing until you spend thousands and also they are are Insurance that will not let you go out of state if a doctor in my state says they can do a removal ( even if it is their first time doing a removal ) …. Reading this interview leaves me with sadness and despair.
Once again I ask for someone in the medical community to take the lead in helping us get our health back even without insurance or the money to do it. Until then I ask ” How do you sleep at night”?

It seems no one in your town can help you. There are few trained surgeons so it is likely you will have to travel. The thought of going out of state is scary but reach out to women that have been there. They will explain where the cheapest hotel is. Look at flights now, it’s cheaper to book way in advance. Raz has a long wait so I was able to put things on my card and worked to pre-pay by the time my surgery date arrived. I know I was fortunate as my insurance did cover UCLA. If your Insurance does not cover this insurance then keep searching. Mayo take a variety of coverage and many women dialogue about success at Mayo. You have to keep fighting for your self. It takes research on all the blog sites. If my insurance did not cover I would have gone to Mayo. As I said one woman blogged , sell whatever you have to, to get it out. Call your insurance see who they will cover and then read about them. Write to this site and ask if others have heard or used them. Buy the book un-deniable, it’s a great tool to teach you what to look for and ask. One women on this site was denied a referral by her insurance and a public picket in front of the insurance office change everything for her. It’s hard to be sick and have to fight but you have help here. Ask specific questions, someone will respond. Personal anger can give you energy. Reading what women go through does create anger and this can be motivating to keep you moving. You are important, keep fighting for your survival.

Sorry- I have not seen those success at Mayo Clinic stories. Pls advise. MND does not want to have an implied endorsement of facilities without a proven track record. Again anyone with a positive report- please let us know!

Kathy – Here’s a link to Mercy’s (the hospital where Dr. V. does surgery) financial aid program. http://www.mercy.net/financial-assistance-and-charity-care That may help out with the cost of surgery. Also, there is a place in St. Louis called Haven House. It is for patients at the surrounding hospitals – think of it as Ronald McDonald House for grown ups. My husband and I stayed there in November because it was only $50/night. That included two meals a day and a shuttle to the hospitals. Also, as I said earlier, I would get the money together to have a consultation with Dr. Veronikis. At least that way, you can start planning for how much it would cost to do this self-pay. I know first hand the St. Louis/Veronikis option is FAAAAAR less expensive than the UCLA/Raz option. Indeed, my bank account is still suffering from the UCLA trip!!!! If I had to do it again, I would go to Veronikis for both my removal surgery and my reconstruction.

Melynda, did you have insurance when you went to have surgery at UCLA with Dr. RAZ? How did your surgery go and how are you now? You said you would have it with Dr. Veronikis if you had to do it again is it because of the financial part? I’m waiting to have surgery and just trying to make a good decision. The only scary thing about Dr. Veronikis is that he uses and believes all the implants that are causing problems?

Dr. Veronikis is the most compassionate and ambitious doctor I have ever met. He seriously is concerned for the welfare of his patients. When faced with a surgical obstacle in the Operating Room, Dr. Veronikis thinks outside the box to achieve his goal for the patient. He is highly confident but not in an egotistical or arrogant way. He is definitely a master in “his theater” (the OR) and and a highly skilled artist as a surgeon with his own special technique. I have never met a doctor that takes such a continuous and ongoing interest (concern) in his patient’s healing. Dr. Veronikis’ aftercare contact with his patients is beyond comparison. I think I was a unique patient for Dr. Veronikis because I had been to the most well known mesh removal surgeons (surgeons held in high regard by Dr. Veronikis) and he was sincerely HONORED that I chose him to remove my TVT sling. Dr. Veronikis is a Rock Star on his stage in The Veronikis Theater and I want to color every sentence I write or speak with praise for him. He is very special; he is a highly gifted Doctor, Surgeon, Specialist and often times a psychologist and brother to many of us ladies that have come to him convinced there is no hope. He is hope, He is life, and I feel blessed to have found him yet the humble man in him thanks me for finding him.

Hi,
Will you please contact me. I have an appt and am so nervous and overwhelmed. I’m praying for a positive outcome and getting my life back.
My email address is: dsmith507@msn.com
Thanks…looking forward to hearing from you !!!

I live in Portage, Indiana 46368. I am 51 years old and I need to have the explant surgery done and my bladder has prolapsed again and is hanging down in my vagina. I need to know if the doctor knows any doctor/surgeon he could recommend in the area by me to have the explant done and the prolapse fixed. I have already had a hysterectomy. Thank you.

Having all my mesh removed in 2013 by Dr. V was a blessing. Two other ‘mesh removal doctors’ said THEY had gotten all my mesh out, but. I was still racked with pain. After Dr. V. removed my mesh in Oct. 2013, I am 100% pain free and off all pain medication!! What an honor to have met Dr. V and his wonderful staff!

Dr V. goes above and beyond what others doctors do, he takes as much time as you need to explain what surgical procedures he will do. My first office visit was over 2 hours and he was never in any rush. If you have any questions, he explains EVERYTHING in detail so that you are sure you understand what is needed. He lets you have total say in what he does, and even gives you photos of what the mesh that he removed!

I’ve been to so many doctors since my Alvaulta mesh (2 of them) implant in 2007, and there has never been a Doctor who even comes close to Dr. V’s compassion and surgical skills! He is a doctor of his word, if he says he will call you, he WILL CALL. And when he does surgery to remove the mesh, you can be assured he WILL do everything he can to get it all. He doesn’t need special equipment, he has a gift that is truly like no other surgeon.

Scheduling an apt with him is a breeze, his staff helps you every step of the way, with pleasure. Mercy Hospital was unlike any other hospital I have ever been in, they really make a difference in little things, like always closing the door to your room when they leave. When they would wake me up for meds, they would gently touch you and speak in a low voice. Just those little things makes your recovery so much better. I could go on and on, and once you meet Dr. V., you will understand!!

can you recommend a good doctor in Dallas, with this doctors ethics and beliefs, as this doctor?

I have had some mesh removed two times and a vaginal repair, and have to go back for more and another sling or mesh product to repair, and I am scared to go back
thank you for your open professional opinion, and support for those of us going through this nightmare,
My doctor did turn me away denied it, I had to spend 5 years going to doctor after doctor, 6 doctors and therapy before I was able to start getting it removed, doctor want to repair with a sling, red flag scared

Hello, Can someone out their possible give me a referral of a good doctor in the twin cities Area- St. Paul- Mpls?
I had the vaginal Mesh removed awhile back and I have been silent with the after math explosion of infections-Nerve damage- chronic pain, etc. and don’t know where to turn. I have gone to 3 doctors about it and I am conviencet that they are pro- mesh and are doing the implants. They tell me that I am fine or that I soon will be.
I am not and have not and need help. Any referrals please would be helpful.

Hello, Can someone out their possible give me a referral of a good doctor in the twin cities Area- St. Paul- Mpls?
I had the vaginal Mesh removed awhile back and I have been silent with the after math explosion of infections-Nerve damage- chronic pain, etc. and don’t know where to turn. I have gone to 3 doctors about it and I am conviencet that they are pro- mesh and are doing the implants. They tell me that I am fine or that I soon will be.
I am not and have not and need help. Any referrals please would be helpful.

Marcy- I’m not a doctor but generally people do not feel better after partial removals, it just sets off mesh particles and can even make the situation worse. Unfortunately, and this is one big problem, while everyone could put mes h in and did, very few can do removals. It is a specialized field. I’m hoping you find someone in your area and if you do please share.. I hope others share with you Otherwise you may have to travel to a specialist to get it out as best you can.

I took my wife 500 miles one way to see Dr. Veronikis. He was worth every mile! He diagnosed and fixed what other local doctors could not do. My wife just had all the eroded mesh removed which was causing alot of infection. She now has to heal 6 weeks before going back. It’s not over, but we have come a long way since it all started in Jan. 2010. My wife had her first bladder surgery and it has been a nightmare ever since. Just so glad we have found the right doctor. Thanks Dr. Veronikis so much for helping my wife and doing what other’s could not.

WARNING DR VERONIKIS LIES WHEN HE SAYS HE HELPS WOMEN WITH MESH! AND HE IS 1 THAT NEEDS TO STOP BEING PRAISED , HE DENIED ME HELP BECAUSE HE SAID A DOCTOR THAT LIED TO ME AND WOULD NOT TALK TO ME AT ALL ABOUT MESH, AND DID A BUTCHERING JOB AND REFUSED ME MEDICAL ATTENTION WHEN FOR DAYS PLEADED FOR ANTI BIOTIC AFTER HE DID SURGERY, MESH STILL PROTRUDING OUT . AND NEVER GOT A 6 WEEKS EXAM BECAUSE THEY KEPT PUTTING OFF MONTHS NOT DAYS TO EVEN TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED IN SURGERY REMOVAL 2 YEARS AGO. DR. VERONIKIS LIED AND SAID HE WAS A VERY GOOD DOCTOR AND REFUSED TO SEE ME TO HELP ME. HIS SORRY RECEPTIONIST AND OFFICE WORKERS LAUGHED IN MY FACE ON PHONE WHEN i TOLD OF THE CRUELTY AND LIES TOLD BY DOCTORS THAT IMPLANTED MESH IN ME. i asked the witch what was so funny about women being lied to and ridiculed by doctors and nurses. by people cruel and liars in mesh?
distorted truth is covering up for those evil, either you are against what mesh has done or not, THIS DOCTOR IS A LIAR AND JUST WANTS TO BE SEEN LIKE SOME PEOPLE GET NOTICED AND IT DOES NOT TAKE AN EDUCATION TO SEE WHAT IS BEHIND THEIR EVIL LIES AND PROPAGANDA LIKE THOSE JANE YOU FACED WITH FOX AND i TOO HAVE FACED IN LIES THAT i HAVE TOLD ABOUT, DOCTORS THAT DO THE EVIL DIRTY WORK FOR THOSE IN POWER TO STOP TRUTH FROM BEING TOLD, EVEN BEING PUT IN JAIL TRULY NOT GUILTY. i have no doubt that the doctors that did dirty work for chemical companies also covered for the chemical companies and lied >>> above the laws to murder and cover up. just as evil as those you ever faced jane . . most from this area after corrupting courts and more with drugs and sex with attorneys and judges moved to florida, distorted truth was told not truth, crimes of those above the laws just like those in medical research and more, get to the bottom of truth and see what organizations, lobbist, politicians and more involved. and why. watch the links and crimes involved covered , even murder. covered up, the terrorist today so greedy for power and money, as evil as those that stood with hitler that america lost so many men fighting, to push their evil look at what they did to veterans hospitals and had those to cover it up, let those that might make a stand against what is happening in america with even medical die out, and send our best to die in wars, all we have left are cons and evil that take over america without a shot, WHAT HAS THIS TO DO WITH MESH? DIG DEEPER AND SEE THOSE THAT DR VERONIKIS WHERE THEY STAND WITH WITH THOSE IN LIES AND COVER UP, YOU CAN SEE THE LINKS BEHIND THE EVIL ALL THE WAY TO WASHINGTON . THAT IS WHY MESH HAS NOT BEEN BANNED IN AMERICA, IT STARTED HERE , THOSE GETTING RICH, IN POWER , IN DRUGS AND EVIL. LIARS NOT AMERICA’S BEST. THOSE THAT CHANGE THE LAWS AND HAVE TORN THE CONSTITUTION ALL TO PIECES, WITH AMENDMENT AND ARTICLES TO STOP TRUTH IN COURT ROOMS TO COVER FOR THE RICH IN POWER AND LINKS IN DRUGS, EVEN CHILD MOLESTATIONS AND RAPES AND MORE THOSE THAT WANT ANYTHING GOES IN AMERICA AND CALL THEIR EVIL WAYS GOOD. this was going on in the 60’s I know implanting poor children with devices and testing drugs, no warnings at all given , back then, just because they were poor. before they dare to give them to the rich and powerful. corrupt, since they attorneys and judges and evil in power with those doctors got rich drugging generations of kids, they knew these kids were doomed on drugs given to them by medical research. god intervened with some and made way to escape what evil in medical and power in states that knew , they were being used as guinea pigs for medical research companies . mind boggling ,BUT THIS IS NOT DISTORTED TRUTH BUT THE TRUTH THAT GETS DOWN TO ALMOST, i said almost the bottom to show , what power and money and lies in records , of those so evil and even their parents that taught them their evil; ways most in drugs and drunks and perverted also. like some in leadership in state wand washington are today. . how in hell could this have happened? they lied and kept it covered up like with mesh. it’s truth, not distorted, not covered up, most call their self christians that use jesus name in vain for their evil purposes . GOD HATES A LIAR , SO DO I. neither was any part of people that would do things so evil;, sinners we are, NOT EVIL.A BIG DIFFERENCE.

Stormy- Would you please remain civil in your comments and not use profanity (which was edited out) in addressing someone. Remember we do not shout at each other and try to provide examples of what you are discussing rather than blasting another person. All comments are welcome (within reason) but overt hostility will not be tolerated. Thank you! ~ J. Akre

You really need some help, and not just physically. Maybe mentally, your rants have no direction. I sincerely pray for you.
DR V helped me and has helped a lot of others, we are not all lying and evil. You poor thing.

WHAT WOULD DOCTOR VERONIKIS SAY TO THE DOCTOR MOST RECENTLY THAT SAID TO ME IT IS NOT THE MESH THAT IS CAUSING YOU PAIN AND INFECTIONS, I ASKED THAT DOCTOR IS THAT MESH COMING PART AND OVING INTO PLACES CAUSING MORE PAIN AND INFECTIONS , HE SAID NO. IT IS SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE MORE LYING DOCTORS HAVE SAID , EVEN THE 1 DR VERONIKIS SAID ON PHONE HIM DSELF WAS A GOOD DOCTOR AND THAT IS WHY HE WOULD NOT SEE ME, DOUBLE MINDED ISN’T HE,? A DOUBLE MINDED PERSON YOU CANNOT TRUST FOR SURE. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH

STRANGE THEY NEVER HAVE AN ANSWER TO SAY i CAN SEND YOU TO THIS EXPERT AND FIND OUT WHAT IS AND HAS CAUSED INFECTIONS AND PAIN >SINCE IMPLANT OF MESH<> i didn’t, it , as it slowly took me down. a slow death and no mercy from medical at all.that sorry .and as low life as any evil that has ever been in history , especially from medical that are suppose to value life. not to use their license to murder. especially cover for murder of their colleagues, if they are not guilty.

Just wanted to take a few mins to say – Dr. Veronikis is the one that remove my mesh. Such a caring & a heart of compassion to help us all. I just thank God for leading me to him & his wonderful caring team. He understands our pain & sickness that the mesh had caused. The moment I had awaken after surgery I knew that I knew it was gone. Please don’t wait. Give them a chance to give you , your life back in way you never thought was possible. I’m now living & loving life once again. God Bless you all !

I am a patient Dr. Veronikis, he has done a full mesh removal on me. I returned to him for full repair/reconstruction, which he also did a spectacular job on. Any time I have had a question or concern, Dr. Veronikis has always been very prompt in getting back with me. I feel absolutely blessed to be able to say that Dr. Veronikis is my doctor!
I was pleased to provide Dr. V with my previous medical records. It is important that he know exactly what has been implanted and what has occurred since implantation; lab reports, exams, and any prior scans and testing can be of great importance. I respect Dr. V’s professional opinion and I certainly admire him as the GREAT MAN that he has proven to be, not only to me but also to thousands of other women.

Good to hear your story, Marty! I, too, had complete mesh removal 6 weeks ago with good recovery and am awaiting the reconstructive surgery. I am curious though, how long were you off work after your complete mesh removal and how long between surgeries? Thanks

Dr. Veronikis is very personable and knowledgeable. His process of using your own body’s fascia instead of all the mesh is such a natural way to think of helping your body work. I’m enjoying working with him and his very polite and helpful staff.

@ Cathy. I have an appt with Dr. V
Would you please share how the appt process works. Such as what happens at the first appt, does he schedule the surgery at your appt or do you have to return before he schedules the surgery. This question you may not be able to answer but does everyone that has the mesh removed has reconstructive surgery. What exactly is reconstructive surgery. How long were you in surgery and hospitalized. I live 4 hrs away and want to be fully aware and prepared. I’m looking so forward to my appt. I feel such hope and praying all works out and that I feel normal again.
Thanks

When we are angry at the outcome if surgeries, patient care etc.. Write U statements in bullet formations
— I awoke to a horror in 2009
–the surgeon was baffled
–I need help going forward
–can someone recommend another surgeon

These are just suggested- we all feel your visceral pain, and know your suffering. Taking time to write a rant looses the audiences that your post is intended for. I’m sorry you are in anguish and know this site has helped thousands find help! So we or someone out there can help you!
Stacy

Dr. V. Used all of the things he says he doesn’t use in my surgery in 2012. My life feels ruined. I need someone besides him to help. He actually had his wife respond and yelled at me when I called his emergency number for pain and fever. I called 2x in one night, and ruined their dinner:( Sorry I can’t recommend. Please do your research carefully before having any mesh surgery done.

I wonder if he can reconstruct my abdomen with fascia lata from my legs (Good thing I have good strong thigh muscles, thanks Grandma Robinson). The abdominal fascia was already removed in original surgery. The question would be is there enough to fix the deficit left after (if they move forward with) removal. The original mesh was 10 cm x 15 cm then “cut to fit” and fixed in place with polypropylene sutures.

Hi I am from Canada and desperately want my mesh out completely. Has anyone from Ontario been able to get the government to pay? How did you do this and how do I contact Dr V? Any info would be really appreciated!!